Building construction



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12 Sheets-Sheet 1O G O O rwerztor May 17, 1938. y A. F. BEMIS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l2'Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed March 20, 1936 mew? I Maw Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Albert F. Bemis, Newton, Masa,

assignor to Bemis Industries, Incorporated, Boston, Mass,

a corporation of Delaware Application March 20, 1936, Serial No. 69,861

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of building construction and resulting products and involves the employment of parts which are manufactured in quantities and in a limited number of standard sizes and shapes suitable for such quantity production, so that they may be transported to a building site and assembled without requiring substantially. any cutting or special fitting, thus greatly facilitating the con,- struction of dwelling houses orthe like, while permitting versatility in design and avoiding a standardized or stereotyped appearance. The present invention affords improvements upon and further developments of the invention disclosed in my United States Patent No. 1,878,367, and, insome aspects, this application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 649,158, filed'December 8, 1932.

My above-identified patent discloses a method of modular construction permitting members to be supplied with dimensions which differ only by a module M or a multiple of the same from the dimensions of other similar members, thus permitting parts to be provided in a range of standardized sizes for constructing a building of prac tically any desired design while avoiding the necessity of cutting to special lengths. The modular dimension M preferably may be of the order of the thickness of a structural wall or may equal the same. A characteristic of such buildings is that the median planes of parallel structural walls are ordinarily spaced at'integral multiples of the inodule M, while there is an interdimensional relationship between the lengths and transverse dimensions of structural members.

A further aspect of the invention disclosed in my prior above-identified patent involves the arrangement of apertures for fastenings at modular distances, such apertures being disposed in longitudinal rows in elongate frame members, the rows being symmetrically disposed relative to the ends of the members and the openings in each row being spaced at modular distances.

The. present invention provides constructions involving the general principles taught by' the above identified patent, providing modularization not only of frame members, wall parts, finish members and the like, but also of connecting means for the same. One aspect of the present invention involves the modular dimensioning of jointing means, for example, splines, stiles, tongues and grooves, and the disposition of such jointing means in definite uniform relations to the structure. A further and related aspect of the invention relates to the modular disposition In order properly to correlate the various features which have just been named, I have dis- 10 covered that it is often advantageous to regard the structural walls, jointing means, etc., as being included in and/or symmetrically disposed relative to certain modular matrices, which forma convenient system of reference for the interrelation of the linear dimensions of parts that interfit or engage each other. A wall matrix may be 'regarded as being made up of theoretical cubes, one M on a side, the structural wall being symmetrically related to the cube group, which is, of course, bisected by the medianplane of the wall. If, for example, the structural wall has a thickness of one M, the faces of the cubes oi, the matrix coincide with the faces of the wall and the ends of wall parts may ordinarily be disposed symmetrically at or within the end surfaces of the end cubes, while the upper and lower edges of the wall parts may be disposed inwardly of the faces of cubes extending alongthe top and bottom of the cubical matrix or may coincide with the same. Each wall matrix may be divided into smaller groups of cubes which correspond to a structural part or wall member.

Joints between wall parts and between such parts and frame members may be designed symmetrically within jointing matrices which consist of rows of reference cubes (one M on a side) that may be disposed in offset relation to the cubes of the modular wall matrix. Thus, for example, an elongate jointing member disposed at the end of a wall may be symmetrically disposed within a vertical row of modular cubes which may be offset M transversely of the jointing member relative to the cubes of the wall matrix. Such jointing matrices in each wall ,may be spaced apart (1. e., have theircenter lines spaced) at distances which are multiples of the module M and may also have a definite modular relationship with the median planes of transversely -extending walls as will be more fully explained.

A modular relationship which I have found of importance involves the division of the individual one-M cubes of a matrix by means of primary andlo r secondary axial planes-and the disposition of jointing means and connecting means in definite relation to such planes. Thus, for example, the cubes of a jointing matrix may be divided by axial planes which intersect at focal lines that determine 'the location of fastening, means, such as apertures, in proper modular relationship to the parts of the jointing means. In other cases, the cubes of a jointing matrix may not only thus be divided by axial planes into eight smaller cubes, M on a side, but may also be divided by secondary planes disposed midway between the axial planes and the faces of the cubes so that each modular cube is subdivided into sixty-four cubes, 4 M on a side. These secondary planes I have found to be particularly ad-. vantageous in determining the location of certain faces of jointing parts such as stiles, splines, tongues, and the like, while the intersections of such secondary planes define secondary focal lines which are particularly advantageous in determining the position of connecting means, for example, apertures to receive fastening pins, bolts, rivets,v or the like.

While my above-identified patent suggested the arrangement of means such as apertures for fastening elements in longitudinal rows in which the apertures were spaced at modular intervals, 1. e., at distances of one module from each other or at distances having a common divisor with one module, I have discovered that it is particularly advantageous to dispose the apertures on .the secondary foci of the matrix cubes at a modular distance, for example M from each other, not only longitudinally of a frame or jointing member, but transversely of the same. When the cubes of the jointing matrices are offset A M relative to the cubes of the wall matrices, such an arrangement permits apertures on the secondary foci of the wall and jointing cubes to register with each other. While the apertures may also be disposed at aliquot parts of the M distances from each other, if the module is of the order,of the structural wall' thickness, the spacing of fastenings at V M dis tance ordinarily is more consistent with practical considerations of structural design.

A further aspect of the invention relates to the disposition of finish and accessory members, such as panels, battens, corner strips and corner units, in definite relation to the faces and the primary and secondary axial planes of the cubes of the jointing matrices and uniform arrangements of fasteningmeans therefor at the foci defined by the intersections of primary and secondary axial planes of the modular cubes.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig.1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the structural matrix for a building having an irregular room layout and with modularly'spaced walls, said matrix being formed of cubes which are one M on a side;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the structural walls of a building with modular wall matrix cubes illustrated in light dot and dash lines;

Fig. 3 is -a similar view of the corner of a building having another type of modularly dimensioned frame;

wall showing the disposition of modular wall matrix cubes and jointing matrix cubes;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view; of a modular cube showing the arrangement of primary and secondary axial planes and primary and secondary foci;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing various relationships which may be provided between jointing matrix cubes and adjoining wall matrix cubes;

Fig. 10 is a broken elevational view showing the arrangement of modular jointing means with the parts connected thereby;

which includes wall units such as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is an isometric view, partly in section, showing a joint between a floor and a vertical wall in a building of the type disclosed in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section through an interior girt which may be employed for a building of the type illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of a portion of an outer right-angled corner of such a buildn Fig. 16 is a horizontal section indicated by line I 6I6 of Fig. 15, and showing the corner joint where a horizontal wall meets two vertical walls;

Fig. 1'7 is a similar sectional view but showing connections between three vertical walls and a horizontal wall;

Figs. 18 and 19 are horizontal sectional views of optional corner constructions which may be employed with wall units of the type illustrated in 5;

Fig. 20 is a horizontal sectional view of a wall including units connected by spline members;

Fig. 21 is a side elevation of such a wall;

Fig. 22 is a horizontal section of a right-angled corner connecting two walls of the type shown in Fig. 20;

Figs. 23 and 21 are similar horizontal sectional 1 views showing three-way and four-way corner connections, respectively;

Fig. 25 is a vertical section showin'g'the connection between a vertical wall such as illustrated in Fig. 20 and a horizontal wall;

Fig. 26 is a horizontal .section showing connecting means employed between a horizontal wall and three intersecting vertical walls;

' Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 25, but showing optional jointing means;

Fig. 28 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 16, but showing an optional splined construction;

Fig. 29 is an isometric yiew of a corner of a building showing the manner in which finish members may be applied to the walls thereof;

Fig. 30 is an isometric view of an upper corner unit employed with the arrangement shown in Fig. 29;

Fig. 31 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of jointing matrices and the rela-' tion oftheir primary foci;

Fig. 32 is an isometric view of a wall provided with jointing means having fastening elements disposed on the primary foci. of the cubes of the jointing matrices; j I

Fig. 33 is an isometric view of a, corner of a building constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the mannerposite units may be employed;

Fig. 34 is a horizontal sectional detail showing the arrangement of retaining means for the exterior panels illustrated in Fig. 33;

in which com-' Fig. 35 is an end view of agirt of the typeshown in Fig. 33;

Fig. 36 is a side elevation of a portion of such a girt;

Fig. 37 is type shown in Figs. 35 and 36;

Fig. 38 is a broken horizontal sectional view through a portion of the building shown in Fig. 35; 1 r

Fig. 39 is a broken vertical sectional view of such a building;

Fig, 40 is a plan view of a glrt assembly at the corner of the building;

Fig. 41 is'a horizontal sectional view through such a girt assembly showing the arrangement of a floor unit in relation thereto;

Fig. 42 is a vertical section of a girt showing the vertical wall units connected thereto but with the horizontal wall unit omitted;

Fig. 43 is an isometric view of a corner of the building before the finish panels are applied thereto; and v Fig. 44 is afsectional view of an angular girt' member showing the manner in which the corner posts are connected thereto.

Since the present invention particularly relates to the dimensional and spatial relationship of building parts, it may now be conveniently noted that certain terms as employed herein should be construed in accordance with the following definitions and explanations, except when the context clearly indicates otherwise:

The term multiple" or integral multiple, as employed herein, means that a factor is multiplied by any whole number, including one. Thus, for. example, an integral multiple of M might be /2M, one M, 1 /2 M, etc.

When parts are herein referred to as being spaced at certain distances or being certain distances apart, such spacings or distances are from ,the centeriines of the .parts referred to. Thus when two openings are described as spaced one M apart, their central axes are spaced at that distance.

A structural wall is the load or stress-bearing portion of a wall and does not include finish panels or material except when the surface paneling has a distinct structuralor wall reinforcing function, as when units which include such paneling are employed to provide the wall structure. The module M may ordinarily be of the general order of the structural wall thickness. When the horizontal walls are much thicker than vertical walls, the module ordinarily may be of the order of the thickness of the vertical walls, and, when the exterior vertical walls are substantially thick-- *multiple of a module M.

er than the interior load-bearing walls, the module may ordinarily be of the order of the thick-- ness of the interior-walls.

Fig. 1 illustrates a system of. one-M reference cubes arranged in a modular matrix system to define the fioor plan of a building. Such a building has a room I extending along one of its sides and two rooms 2 and 3 beside the room I and separated from each other by an intervening partition defined by a layer of matrix cubes 4, a partition defined by a layer of matrix cubes separating the rooms i and 2 and a partition defined by a layer of matrix cubes 1 separating the rooms i and 3. In such a building the distances between center lines of parallel structural members of the same class, for example girts or posts, may di-fier from each other only by an integral Asindicated in 1; the horizontal distances a detail plan of a short girt oi the However, in certain cases some walls, as the exterior walls of a building, may be thicker than other walls, as the interior walls of a building. In such cases, for example, the exterior walls might be defined by Wall matrices which are two M thick and the interior walls defined by matrices which are one M thick. In such cases the .median planes of parallel interior wall matrices would still be spaced an integral number of modules apart, while the corresponding planes for the parallel exterior walls would be similarly spaced, the median planes of interior and exterior walls being spaced at distances which are integral multiples of M.

Preferably the various wall sections are definitely related to and may advantageously be symmetrically disposed within corresponding groups of matrix cubes, while at corners and wall intersections there may be rows of intersection cubes which may define the positions of posts or the like. In certain cases it may be desirable not only to regard cubes disposed at the intersections defined by the projections of the intersecting walls as intersection cubes, but also contiguous rows of cubes disposed in the respective walls, parts of the posts being disposed in such rows of contiguous cubes.

While in order to obtain the full advantages of modular construction and design it is preferable to have the faces of the walls coincide with the faces of the modular cubes, some advantages of the modular arrangements may be obtained when the faces of the walls are disposed within the faces of the wall sections do not coincide with or are not dis posed symmetricallywithin corresponding faces of wall cubes. Such arrangements are illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Fig. 2 illustrates the relation of structural walls which are less than one M thick to wall matrices of a building, the posts l4 being connected by brackets l5 to girts i6 and the median planes of the walls being indicated by the walls p, p and being spaced at integral multiples of the module M from the corresponding planes of parallel walls. In Fig. 2 the posts it are shown as being disposed symmetrically within groups of intersection cubes while the girts iii are disposed symmetrically transversely of the wall within the cubes of the wall matrix, the special arrangement illustrated in this figure showing the ends of the girts disposed outwardly of the faces of the wall matrix cubes rather than coinciding with the same as is preferable for reasons which will be described.

Fig. 3 illustrates an arrangement of corre-- sponding wall matrices when the walls are inmodular cubes and when the ends of cluded in matrix layers which are more than one post H, as shown, is symmetrically disposed in an intersection matrix which is made up of four vertical rows of modular cubes, the wall matrices being made up of layers of modular cubes which are two M thick and walls being disposed symmetrically in a transverse directioniin relation to these wall matrices.

In many cases, the horizontal or floor matrices may be two M thick, as shown in Fig. 4, while the wall matrices may be one M thick, the median plane of the vertical wall being indicated by line 12 p and the median plane of the horizontal wall by line 12 p Fig. 5 illustrates a construction employing wall units which in many cases may be preformed at the manufacturing plant and which may, if desired, have surfaces suitable for the exterior and/or interior finish of the wall, so that additional layers of finishing material are not necessary, it being evidentthat such units may thus combine the functions of structural members and finish members. The principles of this invention may be employed with such constructions or with constructions involving the employment of structural walls of modular dimensions which are adapted to receive layers of finishing material.

In Fig. 5 the preferred arrangement is illustrated wherein the faces of the structural wall substantially coincide with the faces of the wall cubes which are shown in light dot and*dash lines. Furthermore, the vertical and horizontal edges of the wall units may substantially coincide with corresponding faces of the wall matrix cubes. It

is thus evident that the wall units may have widths and heights as well as thicknesses which,

are multiples of the module M. The jointing means which connect the wall units to each other and to the frame members extending along wall intersections may conveniently be regarded as included in jointing matrix cubes, indicated by heavy dotted lines in Fig. 5. Thus adjoining wall units have-tongues ll extending along both vertical and horizontal edges and engaging stiles I0. The latter are included within rows of jointing matrix cubes, the faces of these cubes, transverse to the plane of the wall, are offset M from the parallel faces of the wall matrix cubes,

so that the axial plane of each joint matrix coincides with the transverse faces of matrix cubes -at the edges of the wall units.

Fig. 6 shows a single modular cube which is one M on'a side and shows this cube divided by axial planes P, P and P into 8 smaller cubes which are A M on a side. planes S, S S S S and S which cooperate with the main axial planes P, P and P to divide the cube into 64 small cubes each M on a side.

For the purposes of the present invention, the primary foci such as are provided by the intersectionsof the planes P and P or P and P and designated F may be of importance as defining the proper position of fastening or connecting means, while the secondary foci F at the intersections of secondary planes are often more important as defining the proper location of connecting means. Furthermore, the secondary axial planes, such as S and S may be significant in defining the advantageous positioning of certain faces of jointing members such as splines, stiles, tongues or the like.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the wall units may be provided with the tongues "Which are M thick, so that their outer faces are disposed .upon secondary planes of the vertical jointing matrices corresponding to the secondary planes S and S of the cube shown in Fig. 6. Such an arrangement with wall units of the type shown in Fig. 5

It also shows secondary axial involves the provision of plates l3 between which portions of the tongue members are interposed, these plates obviously having inner faces disposed on the secondary planes of the modular cubes of I the wall matrix.

Furthermore, in order to provide the highest Y degree of convenience and flexibility in design and construction, is advantageous to have the outer faces of the plates I3 coincide with faces of wall cubes and their edges coincide with horil zontal and vertical faces of jointing cubes, while each vertical and horizontal tongue member Ilmay have its transverse vertical and horizontal faces in the planes of the faces of wall cubes.

The vertical and horizontal stiles ll preferably 15 have their inner faces disposed on secondary planes, corresponding to the planes 8 and S of Fig. 6 and preferably have modular widths so that their edge faces coincide with the faces of the corresponding jointing matrices, while their outer faces coincide with the outer faces of the jointing matrix cubes. The stiles ll may have lengths which are multiples of the Mmodule but have their ends spaced M from the facesof matrices, this relationship being shown at the lower part of the vertical jointing matrix of Fig. 5. It is evident that each of the members II, II and I 3 is provided with dimensions in the plane cubes at the ends of the corresponding jointing of the wall which are integral multiples of the module M. Transversely of the,wall the abovenamed members all have dimensions which are integral multiples of M, the members II and I 3 having transverse dimensions equal to V and the tongues ll having transverse dimensions equal to M.

Suitable apertures for fastening pins or dowels l2 are arranged in the stiles II to register with corresponding openings in the tongue members II and adjoining parts such as a part 30' of an.

' cated on the theoretical cube illustrated in Fig.

6, there being a row of openings extending along each of the similar margins of the wall units, the openings being uniformly spaced in each row and being uniformly spaced from the adjoining edges of the tongues ll.

When the fastening means, e. g. apertures, are disposed upon the secondary foci of the jointing matrix cubes and corresponding fociof the wall manner illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In these figures jointing matrix cubes are indicated in full lines and are shown with openings at their secondary foci, while adjoining wall matrix cubes are shown in dot and dash lines and with open- 'ings at their secondary foci.

If, as shown in Fig. 7, a jointing matrix cube is offset M horizontally from the wall matrix cubes, the cubes have vertical secondary planes coinciding and the openings on the -secondary foci of the jointing and wall matrix cubes register, this being the relationship of the cubes along the vertical joint shown in Fig. 5. If the jointing matrix cube is offset 'M vertically relative to-the adjoining wall matrix cubes, as shown in Fig. 8, the cubes 7 have horizontal secondary planes coinciding and the openings on the secondary foci, also register, this being the relationship of the cubes along the horizontal joint of Fig. 5.

At the. region of juncture of horizontal and matrix. cubes, such means may register in the 55 ings at secondary ertical jointing matrices the jointing cubes are ffset M both vertically and horizontally relaive to each other with vertical and horizontal econdary planes coinciding, so that each of these ubes has one-quarter of its total volume in common with one-quarter of the volume of a cube in a matrix extending at right angles thereto. The openings centered on the secondary foci of these quarter cubes register, as shown in Fig. 9. It is thus evident that when openings are disposed upon the secondary foci of modular cubes, such cubes may be offset M vertically, horizontally, or both. Fig. 9 also shows the relationship of the adjoining cubes of the wall matrix to the cubes of the jointing matrices at their region of intersection. It is furthermore evident that in certain cases the jointing cubes may be regarded as the wall cubes when the openings disposed on the secondary foci obviously will coincide. It will be apparent from the subsequent description that the matrix cubes of one wall are definitely related to the matrices of transversely extending walls so that the location of the openfoci not only permits the open ings of the parts of one wall to register with each other but permits these parts to be disposed in definite modular relationship to the parts of intersecting walls.

One advantage of the arrangement of the openings at the secondary foci may be observedfrom the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 10. Rectangular parts such as, for example, core frames for wall units, each made up of a pair of horizontal and a pair of vertical tongue mem bers H, are provided with openings disposed on the secondary foci of the wall matrix cubes. Such rectangular parts or units may have widths and heights which are multiples of the module, the

1 rows of openings extending along the margins of ,the parts being spaced uniformly from the adjoining edges and the openings at corners being common to two rows which extend at right angles to each other. The rectangular parts may be disposed either vertically as shown at the upper part of Fig. 10 or horizontally, as shown in the lower part of that figure, and may have their openings registering with the openings in jointing members, for example stiles I0, such openings .being disposed upon the secondary foci of the .jointing matrix cubes.

The openings extending along each margin of a jointing member I!) are spaced from the adjoining edge of the member at a distance equal to the spacing of the rows of openings in the rectangular parts from the corresponding edges of these parts. Such an arrangement permits parts such as wall units and jointing members to be provided in ranges of sizes characterized by widths and lengths which are multiples of the module or which differ by multiples of the module so that these parts may fit together with their openings in proper registration.

Such preformed parts may be readily joined in a variety of differently arranged assemblies to meet individual requirements of design without necessity offindividual cutting or of providing specially located openings. Not only may wall parts be assembled and interconnected in such a manner, but, as will be more fully described, the

units may be similarly connected'to frame members extending along wall intersections. For this purpose the frame members may be provided with marginal parts similar to .the margins of the wall parts and /having similarly disposed openings, the part 30, shown in Fig. 5, being such a part of a frame member.

When the core frames have modular dimensions, as has been described, their edges will abut at each joint, and the horizontal and vertical jointing members, i. e., stiles, when provided with modular dimensions, will have abutting surfaces at the juncture of, the vertical and horizontal jointing'matrices in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. Referring to Figs. 5 and 10, it is evident that two horizontal stiles I might be provided to meet the end of the vertical stile I which could be extended downwardly one module to exactly fill the space between the ends of the horizontal stiles. It is furthermore evident that, if desired, the core units in Fig, 10 could be arranged so that the shorter transverse members H were two modules longer and the longer members ll two modules shorter, so that the shorter members would extend past the ends of the longer members, the core members or frames still having the same dimensions as are shown herein.

If a standardized clearance is desired between the parts being joined, such as plates, core frames, or the like, the arrangement of the openings in this manner permits members to have dimensions which are integral multiples of the module minus the clearance, so that the standardized clearance may be obtained at both the horizontal and vertical joints between the members, while the openings in the members may properly register with the openings in the connecting stiles or the like. Furthermore, such an arrangement permits a suitable clearance between vertical and horizontal jointing members, e. g. stiles, with or without a similar clearance between the joined members, e. g.,core frames. It is furthermore, of course, evident that such a construction permits the provision of the jointing members and the core frames or the like in ranges of sizes with dimensions which differ from each other by integral multiples of the module M.

It may also be observed that certain advantages of the arrangement of the fastening means, such as apertures, in this manner may be obtained when full employment of the modular principle in all three dimensions is not involved. For example, the horizontal dimensions of the building might be modular and under such conditions, with the openings arranged and spaced in the general manner which has been described, the openings would be arranged, for example, in the jointing means of the floor in rows which are spaced at distances of A M or a multiple there- ,of from each other, the openings in each row transversely of the row. Furthermore, the modular dimensioning of the parts such as stiles, tongue members and plates or the like might be advantageously employed in the vertical walls of such a building, certain standardized corner or filler pieces being employed at the upper and/or lower parts of such a well.

While constructions of this type are particuconstruction having structural walls one M or larly useful in buildings of complete modular two M thick, some of the advantages of arrangements of this character can be realized with members 28 are disposed at the ends of the frame-arrangements such .as are illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. When the walls are arranged in this manner so that their faces are not spaced at exact modular distances from each other, spe-. cial corner constructions may be employed to permit the main portions of the walls to be modular or certain parts, such as stiles, may be pro by integral multiples of the modules without being exact multiples of the same. f

Fig. 11 is a sectional view illustrating jointing arrangements which may be employed to pro vide post assemblies connecting wall units of the character disclosed in Fig. 5. Such post assemblies may include parts of the tongue members I I of adjoining wall units, certain stiles II, and filler members 29 which are M square in cross section. Thus, as shown at the left of Fig. 11, the wall units each have their plates I 3 terminating on a line with the faces of a row of wall matrix cubes. The walls extending in one direction, however, have their tongue portions ii projecting M into the row of modular cubes which is disposed at the wall intersection, while the wall units extending at right angles to the first-named wall have the end faces of theirtongue portions spaced M from this row of cubes. 'It is evident that such a construction permits the units extending in both directions to have modular dimensions. The square filler tongues ll of the members at the right-angled corner at the left of Fig, 11 and cooperatewith the stiles III in affording a solid post assembly.

At the right of Fig. 11 the ends of tongues H of aligned wall units abut each other, while' the third wall unit at this intersection has its end face spaced M from the matrix cube which is included in the wall intersection, the filler member 29 being disposed at the end of this tongue and between the stiles ill at either side thereof.

It is furthermore evident that a four-wayv connection .could be provided having a construction analogous to that shown at the right of Fig. 11.

The arrangements shown in this figure illustrate one advantage of providing the members, such as the stiles Ill, in modular dimensions, it being evident that if the stiles were less than one M wide, there would be gaps between certain edges of stiles and faces of adjoining stiles, while if the stiles were more than one M wide, special stiles or odd-shaped members would have to. be em ployed upon an exterior c'orner such as shown at the left of Fig. 11.

Corner or wall jointing arrangements of the type shown in Fig. 11 -may sometimes be conveniently employed where interior partitions join exterior walls, while other post constructions of a type which will nowbe described may be em-- Fig. 12 is a broken isometric view of a portion of a building such as shown in Fig.- 1, employing wall units of the type illustrated in Fig. 5. As is evident from Fig. 12, the jointing means between the posts at corners and wall intersections may include modular Etiles III of the character already described, having modular dimensions withopenings and pins spaced at intervals Thus, for example, a, wall constructionmodule both transversely and longitudinally of the stiles. In so far as modular analysis of this construction is concerned, it is evident that jointof the modular cubes of such jointing matrices. vided in lengths which differ from each other- One important advantage of such a construction is the arrangement of the various parts of the wall units and posts so that they may be formed of one or more layers of a single thickness of material. For example, a single thickness of material, such as a single layer of wood or a single layer of plywood, may be employed for the panels I3, whi le the'stiles ll may be formed of a single layerof such material, the tongue members ll being formed of two layers of such material which may be glued or otherwise secured together and the posts also being formed of a plurality of layers of material of this character. Thus the right-angled post 20, shown at the left of Fig. 12, may be made of four layers of the material arranged as illustrated, while the post 'Zl, which affords a T-shaped connection,

may be similarly constructed. The fastening elements I! may be dowels which are glued in place or held by a friction flt.

Fig. 13 illustrates the jointing arrangement which may be provided with this type of conas diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4, but has I its faces coinciding with the faces of the wall.

Stiles III, similar to those already described, may be disposed at the ends and sides of the floor units to aid in connecting them to each other and to the girt 30 which, as shown, may also be built up of. layers of material V M thick. The girts preferably are provided with upper and lower i tongue portions 30' which register with the tongue portions i l at the tops and bottoms respectively of wall units, being connected thereto by horizontal stiles 10 which are disposed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5 and have their openings similarly arranged.

It is evident therefore that the construction at both the ends and sides of the wall units may be similar and that the openings may be similarly disposed. The floor units 25'are of similar construction with similarly disposed openings except that the tongue portions 26 are of 1 M thickness rather than M thickness, and the total thickness of these units is two M rather than one M. Such an arrangement not onlypermits the various units to be made up of parts having uniformly spaced openings, but permits great flexibility in design by the employment of stock parts having modular dimensions. Thus,- for example, referring again to. Fig. 5, it is evident that the spacing of the openings in the vertical ahd horizontal stiles is uniform and that the ends of the vertical stiles are spaced M from the faces of modular'jointing cubes so that these stile members not ohly have modular widths and thicknesses, but also modular lengths.

Fig. 14 shows that the samegeneral type of construction with similar modularly dimensioned members is arranged to provide a girt II for an intermediate wall.

Figs. 15and 16 illustrate the corner construction where the girts meet at a convex corner, the

exteriorview of such a corner being shown in.

Fig. 15 which again illustrates the advantage of the disposition of the fastening means on the secondary tool so that the ends of horizontal stile members may abut a vertical edge of a vertical stile member. At the inside of the cornerthe stile pieces of the floor may be cut back from the corner portion and a special corner section II (shown in Fig. 16) may be arranged with fastening means to engage the corresponding corner of the floor unit and the tongues projecting from the girts 30. These girts terminate one M short of the vertical row of one-M cubes at the corner so that the post 20 extends through from one story to the next. With such a construction an opening 35, preferably one M square, may be provided inwardly of the corner, of the wall to receive ducts for heating, lighting and the like. Suitable hollow corner members of modular dimensions may be disposed at the vertical corners of the rooms to conceal these openings and to receive the ducts extending between successive floors.

At such a corner the horizontal stiles ID in the vertical walls may extend beneath and above the ends of vertical stiles i0, thus having the two fastenings at their extremitiescbnnected to the corresponding posts, or, if desired, the vertical stiles may extend past the ends of the horizontal stiles at these corners. In such a case the girts 30 may be notched to receive the stiles.

Fig. 17 shows a similar corner connection where an interior wall extends at right angles from an exterior wall and it is evident that a similar construction can readily be provided at the intersection of four walls.

It will now be apparent that all of the necessary parts required for the walls of a building may be made of a small num er of simple modularly dimensioned elements, and that these elements preferably may be formed of stock A M thick, such stock and the fastenmg pins which are either one M ortwo M long being the basic materials from which the wall parts are constructed.

At this point it may be noted that the ordinary olearancesnecessary in a building construction of this character may be afforded by the thickness' of material removed by cutting the stock, and that when various elements are adhesively secured together, as by gluing, the adhesive layer may be of such a slight dimension as to be negligible. Therefore, when a part is stated, for example, to be one M thick,,it is meant that the part has a dimension which is within a very small fraction of an inch of this dimension, ordinarily having adimension slightly under the precise modular dimension to allow for clearances and allow for the waste due to sawing or the like.

Most of the parts necessary for the structural I walls of a building of this character may be fully symmetrical so that they may be disposed with either face outward arid with either end in either position. The arrangement of the openings for fastening means at uniform distances from each other and from the ends and edges of members permits standardization of manufacturing operl ations and of jigs, indexing and gauging devices.

Obviously a building having walls constructed in the manner described may be formed of material such as wood or ply wood, which is itself suitable for interior and exterior finish or, if desired, suitable finishing material may be applied to the interior or exterior-or both.-

Figshlii and 19 illustrate a stile arrangement where the posts do not project beyond the cubical intersection matrix which is common to two intersecting walls. Thus, for example, Fig. 18

shows two walls meeting at a right-angled corner, 'eachwall being one M thick so that a cubical matrix one M square is defined at the intersection. The post 36 is entirely located within this cubical matrix and the jointing means includes a special angular stile 31 upon the interior of. the corner, stiles iii of the type which have been described being disposed upon the outer sides of the corner. It is evidentthat the stiles III are disposed within a jointing matrix which is ofiset horizontally M from the cubes in which the post is included and that the fastening means for these stiles, as well as for the angular stile 31, are disposed upon the secondary foci of these jointing matrices.

' Fig. 19 illustrates a similar construction at a corner where the interior wall meets an exterior wall, the arrangement of the angular stiles and connecting means being similar to that described with reference to Fig. 18, except that upon the exterior surface of the wall two stiles Iii are located in direct side-by-side juxtaposition.

Figs. 20 to 26 show a building having jointing means comprising splines and having its parts formed of stock material which preferably is M thick and having dimensions which are modular.

The wall shown in Figs. 20 and 21 is built up of units having outer plates 40 which preferably may. have widths and heights that are exact multiples of M. Suitable spacers 4| consisting of two layers of material a'redisposed between the plates 40 and spaced inwardly-from the edges thereof to cooperate with the plates in defining grooves which are k M deep and V M wide; The spacers 4| preferably may be one M wide. The jointing means in this form of the invention may consist of splines 42 which, for convenience of. illustration, are shown as consisting of a single piece of material but which in practice may be conveniently made of two layers of stock material in the same manner as the spacers 4|. As shown, the splines 42 have a width equal to one M and a thickness equal to A M, and these splines as well as the plates 40 may be provided with openings and connected by fastening means I! which are disposed on the secondaryfoci of the jointing matrices in which the splines are included.

In general it may be noted that the wall shown in Figs. 20 and 2l'has parts corresponding to the wall shown in Fig. but with the relationship reversed. Thus, rather than providing twostiles, each A M thick, one M wide, and an integral number of modules long with its openings on the secondary foci, spline members each M thick,

one M wide and an integral number of modules long are arranged with their openings on the secondary foci. Thus the general modular principles illustrated in Figs. 12 to 17 may be employed with the type of wall units and jointing means illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21.

Fig.22 shows the arrangement of a fight-angle corner at the'intersection of two walls such as are-illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21, the post 501 being built up of. a plurality of layers of stock material and having outer plates with openings disposed on the modular foci andhaving grooves which are M wide by -M deep to receive splines t? connecting the wall units to the post.

Fig. 23 illustrates a similar construction with a three-way post 5i with the various parts moduw of two pieces of stock means therefor modular dimensions.

larly dimensioned and disposed in the general manner which has been described, while Fig. 24 shows 'a four-way construction of a similar type.

Fig. 25 shows a girt 52 which may be employed with a building, including splines 42 such as are illustrated in Fig. 20. Preferably the floor may be two M in thickness and two splines 42 may be arranged as shown, two, of the spacing layers 53 of the floor units being extended to cooperate with their upper and lower plates 40* in defining two grooves, each of which are M deep and ti M w'ide. I

Fig. 26 is a view of a girt construction where, a

7 post extends through between successive stories,

disclosed in Figs. 20 to 26 are very similar to those disclosed in Figs. 12 to 19. For example, the

splines 42 are similar in dimensions to the tongue members Ii and may each similarly be formed material that are one M wide, such as are employed -for the stiles l0. It therefore is possible readily to combine the constructions of this character in various ways so that, for example, the stile joints may be used in vertical walls and the splined joints in horizontal walls. Fig. 27 illustrates a girt joint employing an arrangement of this character, the girt being provided with tongue portions to engage splines II in the vertical walls and being provided with grooves to receive splines 42 in the horizontal wall or floor. It is apparent that a building can be provided having orizontal floors and jointingsimilar to those illustrated in and having vertical walls with Figs. 12 to 18. V

Fig. 28 illustrates a construction wherein wall units of the type illustrated in Fig. 5 may be Joined to a post 65, the stiles I ll of the jointing means in the walls which are connected to the post being disposed in matrices which are directly juxtaposed to the row of cubes at the intersection. The wall units may be regarded as included in wall matrices in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5, but the transverse faces of wall matrix cubes are spaced at odd multiples of M from, the parallel faces of the matrix of the trans-- versely extending wall rather. than at multiples of M therefrom as is the case with the construction shown in Fig. 12. With the arrangement shown in Fig. 28, the wall units may have modular dimensions such as previously described, and the parts will fit together to afford walls and rooms of modular dimensions.

It is of course evident-that 'tongued and grooved units rather than units having splines may be connectedin the general manner illustrated in Figs. 20 to 26, the openings for fastening means *being disposed upon the secondary foci of the jointing cubes in the general manner which has been described and the jointing parts as well as the parts connected thereby being provided by It is furthermore evident that the general arrangement ofjointing parts in jointing matrices which are definitely related to the median planes of the walls and the arrangement of the fastening means upon secondary foci can be employed with a variety of structural materials. For example, metal units may be provided in modular dimensions and may be connected by jointing means and fastening elements provided with the general modular relationships which have been described. Furthermore, constructions having such modular relationships may be employed when the walls do not .have thicknesses which are integral multiples of M, e. g., thicknesses equal to one M or two M. Thus, for example, again referring to Figs. 12 and 13, it is evident that the general modular disposition of the jointing means could be retained if the walls did not have acne-M or two-M thickness. If this were true, for example, the'angular portions of the posts between stiles III at the interior corners would not have surfaces equal to an aliquot part of M, namely M, as now shown. Similarly with such constructions the corresponding portions of girts 30, such as shown in Fig. 13, might have widths somewhat greater than the M dimension shown. Certain. advantages of the invention may also be obtained, as pointed out above, when the jointing members have lengths which differ only by integral multiples of M rather than lengths which are equal to integral multiples of M.

As suggested above, it is generally advantageous to have the openings arranged in pairs of rows so that the rows of each pair are spaced at /g M distances and the openings in each row are spaced at M distances, while spaced parallel rows of openings are spaced at integral multiples of the M distance. It is possible, however, and may be desirable when the module is rather large, to arrange the openings and rows of openings at aliquot parts of the M spacing, and in other constructions it is sometimes desirable to arrange the openings so that they are spaced one M apart. Thus the general arrangement of openings disclosed herein may involve spacing at M or an even multiple thereof not greater than one M, namely, M, M or M.

Not only do the above-described arrangements permit the modular dimensioning of parts and the registration of openings in the parts of a single wall, but they also involve modular relationships of parts and openings in one wall with transversely extending or intersecting walls, thus permitting symmetry in arrangement of parts and proper fitting at intersections. The transverse faces of matrix cubes of one wall are spaced at multiples of A M from the parallel faces of transversely extending wall matrices and the 1 median planes of such walls; while the axial v planesof jointing matrices which coincide with such transverse faces are similarly spaced at multiples of M from the parallel faces of the walls of buildings. Fig. 29 shows the corner of such a building which has a metal frame including a corner post- 10, metal studs ll, girts 1 2 and joists 13. The studs H are disposed within jointing matrix cubes, and are provided-with openings on the secondary foci of these cubes. As shown, 

